The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-07-18
WORKERS. NEEDED.
Tho Defects oil, Common School Education


s4 The Training Necessary.
Chicago Tribune g July II.
1t Is gratifying to observe that'both the
Mayor OF the city and the President Of the
Chicago Board OF Education inttbeir ad.
dresses OF welcome to the thousaRda Of
teachers belonging to the National Educa-
tionai Association sought to impress upon
them the value Of manual as vol as Of
mental training and Of combining indus.
trial education with the teachings OF the
echoola % the surest foundation for indi-
yidual success and ultimate benefit to the
State. Mr.. Story 10 his Insertion that "by
giving more attention to scientific instruc.
ton and to the training OF the hand and
eye our public schools may be made to do
much toward meeting tho present require
ments OF industry, while the healthy re-
action upon the schools themselves will
be beneficial in giving 10 intellectual train.
| ing, u higher value in all classes Of 30
ciety," sounded the keynote Of the new
reform which is taking such strong hold
upon our modern educational System.
The system Of ths past may be described
as one intended TO educate the wits to
avoid manual labor. In thelower schools
the province Of instruction has always
been that Of reading, spelling, writing,
arithmetic, and geography, aud upon this
foundation there has been built up
structure OF languages and philosophers,
decorated with few ornamental branches
the aim being TO discipline"tbe reason.
ling faculties, threngthen the intellectual,
develop the memory, and iit the pupil for
mental work. Instruction has been AGA.
demic!! Tia object has been to make rood
citizens with educated brains. II the work
Of the world were to be done by probes.
sional men and middlemen living off the
products OF others the old curriculum OF
study and the old system ott.aining could
not be improved upon. But the Law, diyini-
ty, and medical schoo's already grind out
more professionals than are needed every
year. The mercantile business Ia already
oyercrowded. Y The great majority Of
the 100000 children now attending
school will have to 60 out into the world
and earn their living by their hands. At
best but few Of them will become minis
teIs, doctors, lawyers, or merchants upon
8 large and successful scale. The most OF
them must work with their hands in some
form Of agricultural or mechanical arti.
sanship II they wish to make living, and
come OF them must be howera OF wood
and drawers Of water. The aim Of the
schools, therefore, should be to equip the
pupils With the appliances for making a
: ..living, aud send them out into the world
. prepared for the great struggle OF exist
ence. Instead OF educating the wits TO
avoid labor We need an education OF both
wits and hands, one which will educate
; the pupil how to produce OF himself ard
how to improve the productive processes
Of others, instead Of being content to live
off their productions GsE7'sj
This kind Of training is destined to take
the place Of the present one.sided system
and to become the basis OF our Tres school
system. The working people of the COUP
try are demanding 1t by obvious right, and
the whole public is beginning to tcet its
vital necessity. It ia not necessary to
sacrifice or impair the academic eystem,
which will always be more or less import.
ant according to the wants OF the age. It
is only neceHsa,y to cut of some OF the
supertluoua and purely ornamental
branches and to devote the surplus OF
time, money and resources to the educa-
ton Of the hand and to the teaching Of
such mechanical and scientific studies es
bear upon tho future employment Of the
pupil and his chances of getting on in the
world. The sbresd.winners should be
given the fullest and freest opportunities
for getting their bread, and convention
OF this kind, counseliug and legisMtiny for
National work, ought to consider the eurs.
ton IN all iis bearings. It is the coming
question. Every year it esaesta i.self with
more and more emphasis. The part Of
wisdom 10 MOTTO dodge it but to grapp!e